Car-step



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IN VE N TOR ATTORNEYS.

re iree tra'rns CAR-STEP.

STPEGIFIQATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,599, datedFebruary 27, 1894.

Application filed July 3, 1893.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LLEMUEL SARGEANT MAN- NING, of Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and ImprovedCar-Step, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to an improvement in steps for the platforms ofpassenger cars on railroads, the object being to provide car steps withan extensible step or tread-piece, and means for locking said step inposition,- to facilitate access to and exit from the car platform,conducing to the convenience and safety of passengers.

To this end my invention consists in the construotion and combination ofparts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of referenceindicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front view of the improved steps, detached from. a car,showing the supplementary step in elevated adjustment. Fig. 2 is a sideview opposite the arrow 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side. view opposite thearrow3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front view of the steps with theextensible step in lowered adjustment. Fig. 5 is a side view oppositethe arrow 5 in Fig. 4, showing the position of parts when thesupplementary step is in lowered adjustment. Fig. 6 is a side view ofparts adj usted to lower the step, taken opposite the arrow 6 in Fig. i;and Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line 7-? in Fig. 5.

The tier of fixed steps or tread pieces A, are secured by their ends tothe side plates B, in any suitable manner, and are spaced apart a properdistance to adapt them for their use. The side plates B are designed toform stable supports for the tread pieces A, and serve as hangers bywhich said steps are projeoted downwardly and outwardly from the carplatform (not shown), it being understood that a set of steps isprovided for each side of the latter as usual.

The tiers of steps Awhich have been briefly described, are of anordinary construction, and may be made of wood or metal. As usuallyprovided, the set of steps at each side of a car platform comprises anumber that will suit an ordinary distance intervening the Serial No.479,476. (No model.)

platform and ground. It is frequently the case however, that there arepoints of stoppage for cars on a railroad, where the height of theplatforms from the ground is in excess of the regular distance for whichthe fixed steps are provided, which if not compensated for, occasionsinconvenience and some danger to persons using the steps to ascend to ordescend from the platforms.

The device which embodies the novel features of invention, and that isshown in connection with the ordinary car steps, consists substantially,of a supplementary step 0, that is adjustably secured to the side platesB by means of the hanger plates D, that are exterior to and looselyembrace the latter, so that the step may be elevated or depressed asoocasion may require, said hanger plates having their lower ends affixedto the ends of the step 0 by any suitable means.

The preferred connecting devices for suspending and adjusting thesupplementary step 0, comprise two transverse stay bolts a, that aretightly inserted in the side plates 1 B, one near the front edges of theside plates and below or through the second tread piece from the upperend of the steps, the other bolt penetrating said plates near their rearedges and directly above the lower fixed tread piece of the series. Theend portions of the stay bolts a which project outside of the sideplates B, are loosely inserted through the slots b, b, that arelongitudinally formed in the hanger plates D, which slots arelocat-edoppositely in pairs and are made parallel with each other and also withthe front and rear edges of the plates they are formed in, nuts andwashers being placed on the ends of the bolts to secure them fromdisplacement.

A rock shaft 0, is provided, that. hasashort arm 0', formed on orsecured to one end,projecting laterally at a right angle thereto,another longer arm 0 being removably secured to the opposite end of therock shaft, both arms extending in the same direction. The

rock shaft projects far enough through the slots 19', which are producedin the hanger plates near their rear edges, so that the arms 0', 0 maybe affixed upon its projected ends and permitted to swing near the outersides of the hanger plates. The slots 12, are about double the length ofthe parallel slots 1), the latter being formed near the top ends of thehanger plates and close to their front edges. Near the upper terminalsof the longitudinal slots 1), a transverse slot b is formed in eachhanger plate, crossing the longitudinal slot, so as-to be located partlyon each side of the same, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. At a properpoint to insure correct action, a stud c is projected from the arm 0 onits inner side, so as to enter the cross slot 19 it is opposite, and onsaid stud an anti-friction thimble 0 is loosely secured, the diameter ofwhich is proportioned to loosely fit the slots 6, b. On the arm 0', astud 0 is projected toward the adjacent slot 6, having an equal distancefrom the shaft 0 as the stud c and upon said stud an anti-frictionthimble simi lar to the thimble 0 is loosely mounted. The arm 0 is givena 'sufficient length to adapt it for service as a lever with which torock the shaft 0. It will be seen that when the arm or lever 0 isupwardly swung so that it assumes the position indicated in Figs. 1 and3, the stud and anti-friction thimble on it will be located in therearward extension of the cross slot 12 and lock the supplementary step0, in close contact with the lower tread piece A, said adjustment of thestep being produced by the traverse of the thimbles and their supportingstuds in the cross slots 19 When it is desired to utilize thesupplementary step 0, the arm 0 is swung downwardly and forwardly intothe position indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, which will cause thesupplementary step to be downwardly projected a correct distance forservice, the impinge of the rock shaft 0, on the upper terminals of theslots 1), determining the degree of depression given to the step, thetransverse bolt a, that occupies the front slots b, striking upon theupper end walls of said slots at the same time the rock shaft engagesthe top walls of the rear slots, so that the step is supported near itsfront and rear edges and rendered stable when lowered for service.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination with car steps, of hanger platesvertically movable thereon carrying an auxiliary step, said hangersbeing provided with longitudinal slots having transverse branches, arock shaft having arms extending into the transverse branches, and meansto move the rock shaft, substantially as described.

2. The combination,with parallel side plates and a series oftread-pieces held between said plates, of slotted hanger plates movableon said side plates, two bolts passing through the side plates andthrough parallel longitudinal slots in the hanger plates, a step held atthe lower ends of the hanger plates, and means for sliding the hangerplates on the side plates, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with parallel side plates, and a series oftread-pieces held between said plates, of hanger plates each hangerplate having two parallel slits opposite each other in pairs embracingsaid side plates, bolts passing through the side plates and hangerplates, a step held at the lower ends of the hanger plates, and atransverse rock shaft journaled in said side plates through two oppositelongitudinal slots, and having arms loosely engaging cross slots in thehanger plates, substantially as described.

4:. The combination, with parallel side plates, and a series oftread-pieces held between the side plates, of longitudinally slottedhanger plates movable on said side plates, a step held at the lower endsof the hanger plates, transverse bolts passing through the side platesand longitudinal slots in the hanger plates, a rock shaft slidable inrear longitudinal slots of the hanger plates, arms on the rock shaft,studs on the arms, and anti-friction rollers on the studs, engagingcross slots in the hanger plates, and adapted to lock the movable stepin elevated adjustment and limit its depression, substantially asdescribed.

LEMUEL SARGEANT MANNING.

Witnesses:

W. FALK, W. S. GRAHAM.

